Episode Details

A Walgreens parking lot. A father and son. A whole lot of stuff they never say out loud. That’s the kind of quiet, devastating power George Ellzey Jr. brings to filmmaking, and this conversation made my cheeks hurt from laughing and my brain do the full “wait… that’s real” pause.

George is a South Side Chicago native and DePaul-trained director whose short film Cottage Grove started as a thesis project and turned into a full-on moment, with a festival run, awards, AMC+’s Future of Film Series, and an Emmy nomination that still feels surreal.

We talk about making work from the heart, what self-care looks like when you’re promoting nonstop, why he protects his peace like it’s a full-time job, and the spiritual side of storytelling, including the very casual existence of “peepers.”

Also: Virgo shade, Italian Fiesta loyalty, Pizza Hut nostalgia, and the Grinch as sacred cinema.

Follow George at Cottage Grove Productions.

Hosted by Ilse Zacharias Rivera. Say hi / follow along here: @ilsezacharias

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Thank you to our sponsor, Mezcla Media Collective. Please follow them on Instagram @mezclamediacollective and join the community at mezclamediacollective.org

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Ilse Will Say is an Intrepida Entertainment podcast, hosted by Ilse Zacharias Rivera. Produced and edited by Jacob Cagle. Music by Eric Backus. Photography by Joel Maisonet.

The views and opinions expressed on Ilse Will Say are entirely those of the host and guests, and do not reflect the views of any employers, sponsors, or innocent bystanders. This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Nothing said here is professional advice. We're here for the laughs, y'all.